Thoughts on Thursday...

This quote was in my fortune cookie...

"It is your attitude, not your aptitude, that determines your altitude."

                                                                           ~Zig Ziglar~

If you really think about this quote, it can apply to anyone or anything. A positive "attitude" about something is so important. Attitude is not "what" you think about something ...it's how you "feel" about something.

So "feel" good about what your doing, even in the simplest things in life. Most people reading this right now love to create... we like to craft, sew, cook, blog etc. Whatever you do, do it with attitude...a positive attitude. It doesn't have to be picture perfect in the end...just love what you do and how it turns out, because when you are positive and surround yourself with positive...the sky's the limit.

Happy Thursday,
~Karen~

Tool Time Tuesday...Father's Day Gift Wrap

Father's Day this year is Sunday, June 17th.

No matter what dads receive for Father's Day, the gift wrap is probably the last thing on their mind...unless it looks like this!

A useful apron from Home Depot (or any hardware store), brown craft paper, paint chips and ribbon or string.

"Brown paper packages tied up with string...these are a few of my favorite things."

I know you're singing it your head right now!! Lol

Just tuck the presents into the apron...

and fold the apron in half...you will use the strings to tie it up.

To make a free quick card, I used paint chips that I've saved after we've had a painting project and stick on letters.

Have the kids make the card and they can sign it on the bottom color or on the back!

Use the apron strings to tie up the apron in half.

The apron can fit two or more packages on both sides.

Not bad for a 77 cent apron and a free paint chip!! Yes these aprons are 77 cents. Click HERE for a girlie version I made a long time ago

You know all Dads will love this!!

Have a great Tuesday,
~Karen~

Captain Crunch Chicken Recipe...

I know, Captain Crunch? Sounds crazy, but it was delicious! Both our daughters go to the same university where the school was ranked in the top 3 for food service across the nation and student approval at the school is 99%. Our girls love it and my husband and I agree, because we've eaten there too. All the food there is unbelievably good.

Ok, it's not bad enough that I have to "think" of something different to cook each night...now I'm competing with their school food! Lol

Well, here is one of the dishes they love from school. It's not the school's recipe...I found one the Internet and then changed it up.

Here's my Captain Crunch Chicken...not so much a recipe, but the process. Click HERE for a link to Planet Hollywood's Recipe.

1. Placed the Captain Crunch in blender and grind down to consistency of bread crumbs
2. lay out 3 dishes. One with flour, the second with 2 eggs and a little milk to make an egg wash and the third dish with the Captain Crunch crumbs
3. I used chicken breast and thighs. We have a white meat, dark meat family.
4. dip chicken in flour, then egg wash, then Captain Crunch crumbs.
5. Place on baking sheet
6. Sprinkle with salt, pepper and garlic powder to taste
7. I baked it at 350 for 30-35 minutes, depending on the thickness of the chicken. You could also fry this as in the recipe from the Internet.

I am definitely not a food stylist...

These were just quick pictures while everyone was grabbing for the food.

Hope you like it...Give it a try.
~Karen~

Sew Darn Crafty Linking Party...Week 68

Sew Darn Crafty is the best linking party all because of you. I love all your projects, recipes and blog posts each week. I was thinking we could do something fun for the months of July and August...theme weeks!

If I had a different theme each week, you could link up your blog post with that theme in mind. I would post the themes well in advance, so you'll have plenty of time to do you posts on your blog.

a few examples might be...

• red white and blue
• summer craft projects
• summertime recipes

If you have any suggestions for a theme, I would love it if you let me know in the comments. I will post the themes next Sunday.

Now on to this week's links to see what you've been up to.

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If you're NEW to Sew Darn Crafty, then grab a cup of something tasty, sit back and join in on the fun (starts Sunday and lasts all week long here at Sew Many Ways).

If you want to add the button to your blog's side bar or your list of parties that you're in each week...Click HERE for a tutorial for adding a button

WHAT IS A LINKING PARTY...

I subscribe to a linking service, which provides the ability to link thumbnail pictures on my blog. The picture is a link that other bloggers provide to share their projects.

Two things can happen at a linking party...looking and/or linking

• you can be greatly inspired by wonderful projects, ideas or vacation pictures (looking) and/or
• you can share what you've been up to (linking)

If you want to be inspired by all the great ideas...just click on a picture and it will take you to that post from a wonderful blogger who was willing to share her thoughts and ideas.

HOW AND WHAT TO LINK TO THE PARTY...

Sew Darn Crafty is all about YOU!! Show off your projects, share a tutorial, show us your vacation pictures, share a family favorite recipe...share anything. Not only does linking inspire us all, it also brings lots of new people to your blog for a visit. Click here for past parties and lots of inspiration

Easy steps to join in on the fun...

• link up to the specific project post, not your whole blog. Makes it easier to link right to that post and not  search through all your entire blog. To find the http address to a specific post, just click on the Title of your post. Copy and paste the address that's at the top of your computer into the linky steps.
• link as many projects as you'd like...old or new
• anything goes...cooking, sewing, knitting, crafts, organizing, remodeling projects, vacations, parties etc...
• visit other links to share some blogging love! You know we all love comments!
• linking is open til Saturday night, so plenty of time to join in
• just click the blue "click here to enter" button below and follow the easy steps

Have fun linking up! Don't forget to come back and take a look at all the great projects during the week

~Karen~

SSS...Ottoman Slip Cover Tutorial

Sew Sew Saturday...I had to shorten it to SSS, but you all know SSS is about making a point to "find" the time to sew. My day to make an appointment with myself to sew is Saturday.

Thought I'd share with you last Saturday's project. My daughter Courtney had an ottoman in her dorm room that I didn't want to store in the basement over the summer, so I thought I would use it! Here's a quick tutorial on how to make a slip cover for it.

I used inexpensive burlap because 1. it's cheap and 2. that's what I had on hand!

Here's the AFTER...

Here's the BEFORE...the stark white just didn't work for the room

TUTORIAL

Measure the width of the top east to west.

 
and the width of the top north to south.

You also need to measure the height of the side.

and the distance all the way around.

ADD 1 INCH TO ALL MEASUREMENTS FOR THE SEAM ALLOWANCE.

I USED 1/2 INCH SEAM

Cut out the top and place it RIGHT SIDE DOWN on the ottoman. (there is no right side to burlap, but your fabric might have it)

For the side piece, I used the finished selvage edge for the hem so I wouldn't have to hem it. Take that into consideration when cutting the side piece.

Add only 1/2 inch to the height measurement if you are using the selvage finished edge.

Add more to the measurement if you have to hem it.

This is the strip I cut for the side panel that goes all the way around.

Sew the 2 short ends together to make a loop.

Place the loop over the ottoman WRONG SIDE OUT. Match the seam to one of the corners.

This is only a temporary cover for me, so I'm not picky. If you want a seam on all for corners, you must cut four individual pieces for all the side panels. Same process...you just need to sew the 4 pieces together and have the seams on the corners.

Pin the top to the side panels...

All the way around.

Sew with 1/2 inch seam with a straight stitch, then go back again on the edge with a zig zag stitch to prevent the burlap from unraveling.

Then just slip it on!

Mistakes and all. I had no desire to pull that little gathered stitch out. I think it adds character!! That's what we all say when we don't want to correct a mistake! Lol

Easy peasy and works great just as a temporary cover for the summer until she takes it back to school.

Add a tray for magazines and what nots...keeps things contained and there is still room to put your feet up.

Courtney said she actually loves the burlap and wants to keep it on and redecorate her dorm room with burlap in mind.

Yikes...I think I see more sewing in my future.

Have a Sew Sew Saturday,
~Karen~

Find a Friend Friday...Give Aways and Blog Hops Too!!!

Hello to all my wonderful friends out there. It's Friday and the start of another week of linking. Today is also the start to DOUBLE linking Friday and I am so excited.

The first section is still Find a Friend...where you link up your whole blog so new friends can stop by your blog for a visit.

The second section is for anyone having a blog give away or a blog hop. I don't have a clever name for that...too long to say "Find a Give Away and Blog Hop Friday". Maybe "Find Some Fun Friday".

So, here it is...2 sections. Link up to one or the other or both. You can also just stop by for a visit and not link up at all!!

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SECTION 1...LINK YOUR BLOG

If you are new to Find a Friend Friday (FaFF), you are in for a treat! It's a simple linking party to add a link to your blog so friends, old and new, can stop by and visit.

It's great to share your blog with everyone, but it's also fun just to look around. Even if you don't have a blog, you can find a wealth of great people willing to share their talents. and another great blog to follow.

This is an easy one to participate in...you are just linking to your own blog. No projects to sew, no furniture to paint, no cookies to bake or pictures to take. You are just sharing your blog and then friends will stop by for a looksy.

• click on the blue "click here to enter" link in THIS section
• copy and paste or just type in your blog address...example: http://sewmanyways.blogspot.com
• enter title of link...your blog name or phrase to grab attention
• add a photo of you, your profile picture or your blog button or whatever you think will grab some one's attention...(I'm thinking a picture of a big piece of chocolate cake, but that just me LOL)

SECTION 2...LINK GIVE AWAY OR BLOG HOP

This section is perfect for anyone having a blog give away or a blog hop. We all love having friends enter give aways and participate in blog hops, but sometimes it's hard to get the flow of people to those blogs. What better way to share all that info than to have them advertised all in one place.

Same steps to enter as above EXCEPT you need to enter the URL address of your give away or hop...NOT your whole blog. It makes it easier for everyone to find that particular post.

To find the URL of a particular post, just click on the post title and then paste that address in the linking party section.

So in a nut shell...

• click on the blue "click here to enter" button under THIS section
• copy and paste URL address for the particular post of the give away or hop
• enter title to grab their attention 
• add photo of give away items or blog button for give away or blog hop

That's it...super easy. Just think of the possibilities of finding all those wonderful blogs, give aways and hops out there.

Thanks for participating,

~Karen~